Carmelo Anthony and Jimmy Butler
As the NBA trade rumors continue to center on the Carmelo Anthony saga, a new player emerges that could turn the Eastern Conference around.
The Chicago Bulls were very close to signing Carmelo Anthony two years ago when he became a free agent. The Bulls gave Anthony the best of both worlds-they could offer him close to the max money and also give him a chance to win a title.
With the Bulls core of Joakim Noah (at his peak), Pau Gasol, Derrick Rose and Jimmy Butler (it was understood that Taj Gibson, Nikola Mirotic would be traded in order to accommodate Anthony in their cap space), that would have rivaled the Cleveland Cavaliers or any other Eastern team.
Fast forward two years later, two of the stalwarts of that Bulls team have made their way to Madison Square Garden but are nowhere near their All-Star level. Anthony is feuding with Phil Jackson, the same team president that signed him to a contract with a no-trade clause.
The Bulls team is much different now but there is still a spot for Anthony. They won't be a contender with his addition, though. Still, the prospect of another scorer seems attractive to Jimmy Butler, who according to the Chicago Sun Times is making an effort to recruit.
Butler has reportedly made calls to Carmelo Anthony, in what was called a "catch-up" call. But a recruiting call could be next as Butler and Anthony were teammates in Team USA for the 2016 Rio Olympics.
"That is half the battle,'' Butler said. "And I could still do that. Everybody knows what Carmelo can bring to a team. The dude is a hell of a player. But we have some things that we've got to worry about here first in the next few weeks [leading into the Feb. 23 trade deadline] before we go down that road.''
Joe Cowley of the Sun Times also bared the possible package: "The Bulls can send Rajon Rondo, Taj Gibson and their first-round pick to the Knicks for Anthony. It would give Jackson another draft pick, an expiring contract (Gibson's) and a veteran point guard for next season with Derrick Rose a free agent."
The Knicks don't have too many options, as the Cavs seem to have the closed the door and the Boston Celtics have "minimal interest" according to Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical.
If the Celtics only offer players without the Brooklyn Nets' pick and the Cavs don't budge on Kevin Love, the hypothetical Rondo-Gibson package may be the best that the Knicks could get.
